Mixing containers



Aug. 6, 1963 w. F. VIA, JR

MIXING CONTAINERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 12, 1961 INVENTOR. 7%?777 )7 z l, J'r.

I dFALZf/S v Aug. 6, 1963 w. F. VIA, JR

MIXING CONTAINERS 5 Sheets$heet 2 'INVENTOR. 14/17/127 2' 14-4, 'r.

BY y 4 7 Filed June 12, 1961 Aug. 6, 1963 w. F. VIA, JR 3,100,045

MIXING CONTAINERS Filed June 12, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. vI/I/ZYWW 2 x47, 9",.

tates Unite This invention relates to containers for materials, and particularly to a container for separating two materials until mixed therewithin while the container is maintained sealed.

Many types of materials must be maintained separated until time for use when they are mixed together. Such materials may be epoxy resins, dental impression materials and the like which are difiicult to proportion and mix satisfactorily. In dental impression materials, as an example, the two materials to be mixed are stored in separate compartments of a container and are mixed therein without rupturing the container Wall so that the mixing is accomplished in the absence of air. There are several types of dental impression materials, among which area rubber base material, a silicon base material, and a material embodying zinc oxide and ieugenol. Such materials are in heavy paste form and embody a base material and an accelerator which must be mixed together just prior to use. This is also true of epoxy resins wherein the two materials are maintained separated until the time of use, when they are mixed together in exact proportion within the container. Such materials are presently furnished in collapsible tubes in cans, jars and like containers. With dental impression and other materials, it is necessary to measure out the correct proportion of the accelerator and base materials onto a glass slab, a paper pad or the like, and combine the two materials by the use of a spatula or other implement. Because the materials are heavy paste, it is difficult to determine the correct proportion and even more diffcult to mix them properly to be assured that a complete mixture is obtained. Such materials are usually malodorous, extremely sticky, difficult to remove from the skin, the glass slab and the mixing tool, and are in general very messy to mix, handle and use.

The present invention embodies a single container hav ing separate compartments for the accelerator and the base materials. The container is so constructed as to perrnit the materials to be mixed together therein at the time needed, with no residue left on any object or person which would require cleaning, as the container is disposable.

The container takes various forms, all of which embody separate compartments which are joined together, with a rupturable diaphragm therebetween which separates the two materials. At least one of the compartments has a flexible, invertible wall which permits a rod to be inserted thereinto to break the diaphragm and then to mix the materials in the enclosed area without rupturing the outer wall or the container. The 'odors of the materials are confined within the container and the air is prevented from contaminating the materials until the two materials have been completely mixed. Thereafter, a portion of the material of the container may be severed or -a plug removed so that the mixture may be ejected from the container directly into the area to which it is to be applied, into a syringe, or othewise disposed of without touching a surface or the skin of a person which would require cleaning.

Accordingly, the main objects of the invention are: to provide a container having separate compartments for materials which are to be mixed together at the time of use, one of the compartments having a flexible wall which permits a rod to be manipulated within the container to mix the materials; to provide a thin wall between two atent I1 2 compartments of a container which is ruptured by a rod that is manipulated within the container through an inverted flexible wall for mixing the material while the container remains sealed, and, in general, to provide a container for mixing two materials together which is simple in construction and economical of manufacture.

Other objects and features of novelty of the invention will be specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of the invention, to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a container embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken on the line 2-4. thereof;

FIG. 3 is a view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 2, with a rod in position for mixing two contained materials together;

FIG. 4 is a view of structure, similar to that illustrated in FIG. 2, showing a further form of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a view of structure, similar to that illustrated in FIG. 4, showing another form which the invention may assume;

FIG. 6 is a view of structure, similar to that illustrated in FIG. 4, showing still another form of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 8, taken on the line 7-7 thereof;

FIG. 8 is a view in elevation of the structure illustrated in FIG. 7, taken from the line 8-8 thereof;

FIG. 9 is a view of structure, similar to that illustrated in FIG. 5, showing a further form of the invention;

FIG. 1-0 is a plan view of structure, similar to that illustrated in FIG. 1, showing a still further form of the invention;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged broken view in elevation of the structure illustrated in FIG. 10, and

FIG. 12 is a broken sectional view ofthe structure illustrated in FIG. 11, showing the manipulation of a rod for mixing the material the container. 7

In FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive, a container 13 is illustrated made from a plastic material, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or other readily sealable resins known in the art to be suitable. The container has a dish-shaped bottom portion 14 and an inverted dish-shaped top portion 15. The top portion 15 has an extended truncated conical portion 16 of thin wall construction to provide flexibility thereto, with the rounded end 17 inverted as illustrated in the figure. After the material 18 has been placed within the truncated conical portion 16, a thin rupturable diaphragm 19 is heat sealed or otherwise secured to the inner side of the top portion 15 to seal the material 18 within the truncated conical portion. Material 21 is placed within the dish-shaped portions 14 and 15 and the outwardly extended flanges 22 and 23 thereof are sealed together. If a heat seal is employed, the material of the flanges is pressed together inwardly of the projecting rib 24 to thoroughly in-termingle the material thereof. It is within the purview of the invention to heat seal a greater portion of the flanges together and leave approximately one-third open tor the passage of the material 21 into the dish-shaped portions, after which the unsealed flange portions are sealed together.

When it is desired to mix the materials 18 and 2 1 at the time they are to be used, a rod or similar implement 25 is engaged with the inverted end portions 17 and forced downwardly into the flexible conical portion 16 until the diaphragm 19 is engaged and ruptured, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Thereafter, the rod and inverted coni cal portion 16 are forced within the dish-shaped portions :14 and 15 adjacent to the sealed flanges 22 and 23 thereof. Relative rotation is provided therebet-ween, either through-the movement of the rod 25 when disposed in angular position the compartment formed by the dish-shaped elements 14 and 15, or the latter may be rotated when the rod is retained stationary. The dish shaped element 14 has the bottom 26 inverted to extend within the compartment to reduce the volume thereof. When the rod 25 is inserted in the conical portion and the compartment, the inverted portion 26 bulges outwardly, as illustrated in FIG. 3, to permit all of the material and the rod to occupy the entire area thereof. The two materials 18 and 21 are thoroughly mixed together in the absence of air and without the emission of objectionable odors when kneaded between the container walls by the rod. When the two materials are thoroughly mixed, the rod 25 is withdrawn and pressure is applied to the dish-shaped element 14 to force the flexible conical portion 16 outwardly to asume the position illustrated in FIG. 2. Thereafter, the end 17 is severed and the material forced from the container in condition to be immediately used. In such arrangement, the mixed material does not contact the rod 25 or any other surface, and the diflicult cleaning job which accompanies the mixing of some materials is thereby eliminated.

-In FIG. 4, a somewhat similar structure is illustrated, that wherein the dish-shaped bottom element 27 has a central inwardly projecting dome portion 28 and the flexible conical element 29 has the end portion 31 inverted therein to be disposed closely adjacent to a rupturable diaphragm 32. The diaphragm separates the conical portion from the dish portion when secured between the two flange portions 33 and 34 by heat sealing or other means. In this arrangement, when the rod 25 is inserted in the inverted end portion 31, a downward movement will cause the diaphragm 32 to be broken, and by the revolution of the end of the rod in the doughnutshaped recess 35 about the inverted dome portion 28 within the dish-shaped element 27, the materials are thor-' oug-hly mixed. Thereafter, pressure on the dish-shaped element 27 will cause the inverted portion 31 to be moved to the position illustrated in FIG. 4 or to a fully extended position so that the end may be severed and the material expressed ifl'OHl. the container. The materials 18 and 21 within the two compartments are mixed without the presence of air or the emission of odors.

In FIG. 5, a container is illustrated formed of oppositely facing dish-shaped elements 36 and 40 which are joined together by the flanges 41 and 42 which are heat sealed or otherwise secured together and to a rupturable diaphragm 30 after the material 18 and 21 has been placed therein. A flexible conical portion 49 extends from the center of the element 40, having an inverted end portion 17. The sealed flanges 41 and 42 have a plug -1 removably disposed Within a cylindrical aperture of the flange material disposed about the plug. The plug may have a thread thereon which prevents it from being forced from the container when the material is being mixed under pressure therein. A slot or other means may be provided on the exposed end of the plug for aiding in its removal. The mixed material is forced from the aperture when the plug is removed by pressure applied to the walls of the container. The bottom element 36 may have an inverted portion, such as portion 26 of FIG. 2, which bulges outwardly during the mixing operation.

In FIG. 6, a container is illustrated having portions 37 and 3-8 of truncated conical shape separated by a diaphragm 39 which is disposed between the flanges 41 and 42 and sealed therewith during the sealing and deforming operations on the flanges. The diameter of the container 38 is less than that of the container 37, the latter having an inverted conical portion 43 and the former an inverted conical portion 44-. A mixing-rod may be employed in one or the other of the inverted conical portions 43 and 44 or may be employed in both to break the diaphragm 39 and mix the material by having the two rods orbit about each other without breaking the wall of the 4 container, in the absence of air and without any odors from the materials during the mixing operation. One of the conical elements 37 or 3 8 may have pressure applied thereto, causing one or the other inverted portions 43 and 44 to be extended so that the end may be severed and the material ejected therefrom.

In FIG. 7 a similar structure is illustrated wherein like conical elements 46 and 47 have the material 18 and 2 .1 thereof separated by a diaphragm 48 which is heat sealed between flanges 41 and 42 while the material of the flange is deformed to form the rib 24. The conical elements 46 and 47 have the end portions inverted at 53 and 54 respectively. The inverted portions receive aligned stationary rods over which the container is reciprocated to first break the diaphragm 48 and thereafter to thoroughly mix the materials 1 8 and 21 within the container which is maintained sealed during the mixing operation. A machine may be employed to retain the rods or container stationary while the other is reciprocated to produce the mixing operation. One of the inverted ends 53 or 54 is extended and severed to expose the mixed material for use.

A still further form of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 9 wherein a container 50 has a dish-shaped element 55 mated with a truncated conical element 56 having invented end portion 57. A separate flexible element 58 has the material 18 therein and is surrounded by the material 21 in the chamber formed by the elements 55 and 56. The open end of the element 58 is disposed between the flanges 41 and 42 and sealed thereto when the flanges are heat sealed or otherwise secured together. The element 55 has an inverted bottom portion 26 which bulges outwardly when (the rod 25 is forced into the material 21 within the container 50. The rod is inserted in the invented end portion 57 of the truncated conical element 56 to rupture the element 58 and to mix the two materials through the interfacial rubbing of the material on the walls of the container in the absence of air and without the emanation of odors as pointed out hereinabove. After the materials are thoroughly mixed, pressure on the dish-shaped element 55 returns the conical element 56 to the position illustrated in the figure. Thereafter, the end portion 57 is severed and the material forced from the container by applying pressure thereto.

In FIG. 10, a still further form of the invention is illustrated, that wherein a compartment 61 is formed of two dish-shaped elements 62 having converging sides 63 and 64 and an arcuate bottom portion 65. These two elements are sealed together by flanges 66 in the manner pointed out hereinabove, and an annular flange 67 is provided at the top of the assembled elements 62. A conicalshaped flexible element 69 has an inverted end portion 71 and a flange 72 of the same diameter as the flange 67. A diaphragm 73 separates the compartment 61 from that of the conical-shaped element 69' and is sealed between the two flanges 67 and 72 when the flanges are sealed together in the manner as pointed out hereinabove. The materials 18 and 21 within the compartments are separated by the diaphragm 73. A rod 74 is inserted in the inverted portions 71 and forced down therein to rupture the diaphragm 73. Through the oscillation of the rod within the compartment 61 from one side 64- to the other side 63, and vice versa, along the arc of the bottom portion 65, the material is thoroughly mixed. Thereafter, the end 71 of the element 69 is forced out into the position illustrated in FIG. 11 and severed to permit the mixed material to be expressed therefrom when the sides of the elements 63 are pressed together. It will be noted that the flanges 66 have been distorted when heated to have the material flow together so that a perfect joint will be obtained. This is also true of the flanges 72 and 67, the offsetting of the material during the heat sealing operation causing the intermingling of the material of the two flanges and the diaphragm 73.

ing a predetermined amount of different materials which are to be mixed together. The elements of the container are mated to have at least two compartments, although a third or any number of compartments may be employed by the use of more of the diaphragms, maintaining the materials separated until the diaphragms are broken by the mixing rod. The rod is inserted through one or more flexible compartments to break the diaphragms therebetween so that any number of materials may be mixed together while the container is maintained sealed. The wall of the conical-shaped compartment permits the rod to be manipulated within the container to mix the material without breaking the container wall. The mixing occurs in the container through the manipulation of the rod therein or by maintaining the rod stationary and rotating or oscillating the container thereabout. The relative movement between the container and the rod may be effected by a simple machine which will maintain the rod or container stationary when the other is manipulated. When employing any of the containers, a plurality of materials are mixed together at the time of use without the material contacting the mixing tool or surface on which the mixing occurs. The mixed material is directly applied to the work or to a syringe without contacting any tool, device, surface or the skin of a person and no clean-up time is required. The relative amount of the materials is critical and the containers permit the accurate measurement of the materials and the permanent sealing thereof. Some materials change in character when exposed to the air which occurs each time a jar is opened or at the time the materials are mixed together in the open.

The containers are preferably made of parts having different characteristics as to thickness, hardness and flexibility. Different materials may be employed for the various elements of the container so long as they are compatible and can be secured together. In FIGS. 1 to 3 the container 13 is made of the same material with the element 14 of a wall thickness: of approximately .04 inch so as to have a considerable amount of rigidity since the mixing occurs therein. The element 15 may be .03 inch in thickness to have :less rigidity, and the element 16 may have a wall thickness of approximately .02 inch. The rupturable diaphragm can be made :of a brittle material but preferably is made of a stretchable plastic material having a thickness of approximately .01 inch so as to readily tear when distorted by the rod. The sizes above mentioned are by Way of example and were taken from a container of a diameter illustrated in FIG. 1. It is to be understood that different wall thicknesses will be employed for larger and smaller containers.

It was found that a liquid and a powder or paste could be mixed in the same manner without loss through vaporization, spillage, absorption or for other reasons. A methyl methacrylate monomer mixed with :a methyl methacrylate polymer is an example of dissimilar materials to be mixed within a container. In any mixing of materials the size of the rod and container must be such as to force the material to intermingle and rub under pressure on the wall surfaces which confine the material in such a manner as to cause it to move as a mass.

What is claimed is:

1. A container having a pair of compartments for containing dissimilar materials separated by a rupturable diaphragm, said material requiring a kneading action when mixed together, one of said compartments having a flexible wall to permit the insertion of a rod for breaking the diaphragm and permitting relative movement between the rod and container to produce the complete kneading and mixing of the materials with the container remaining sealed.

2. A container formed from a pair of facing dishshaped elements having peripheral flanges, means sealing said flanges together, a sealed rupturable diaphragm secured within the container for separating it into two compartments, and a conical-shaped flexible'=wall forming an extension of one of the elements.

3. In a container for a measured amount of two materials to be mixed together at the time of use, a pair of elements forming compartments, at least one of said elements having an outwardly extending flexible wall containing a recess for a rod which mixes the material, and a rupturable diaphragm separating the two compartments and the materials therewithin.

4. in a container for a measured amount of two materials to be mixed together at the time of use, a pair of elements forming compartments, at least one of said elements having an outwardly extending flexible wall, a rupturable diaphragm separating the two compartments and the materials therewithin, and a rod insertable into the interior of the container by inverting the flexible wall for breaking the diaphragm and mixing the two materials together.

5. In a container, a compartment having spaced faces, converging sides and an inwardly extending arcuate bottom portion, a second compartment formed from a thin walled truncated conical element, and a rupturable diaphragm disposed between the compartments and sealed at the "edges thereof.

6. In a container, a compartment having spaced faces, converging sides and an arcuate bottom portion, a second compartment formed from a thin walled conical element, a rupturable diaphragm disposed between the compartments and sealed at the edges thereof, the end of the conical element being inverted therewithin, and a rodlike element for forcing said end to break the diaphragm and mix the materials with the compartment retained sealed.

7. In a container, two conical-shaped portions having flanges at the open end forming compartments, and a rupturable diaphragm separating said compartments and sealed to the flanges when the flanges are sealed together, the material of the conical-shaped portions being flexible.

8. In a container, two conical-shaped portions having flanges at the open end forming compartments, and a rupturable diaphragm separating said compartments and sealed to the flanges when the flanges are sealed together, the material of the conical-shaped portions being flexible, the ends of said conical-shaped portions being invented and extended into the larger end sections thereof.

9. In a container, two conical-shaped portions having flanges at the open end forming compartments, and a rupturable diaphragm separating said compartments and sealed to the flanges when the flanges are sealed together, the material of the conical-shaped portions being flexible, the ends of said conical-shaped portions being inverted and extended into the larger end sections thereof, the diameter of one of the conical-shaped portions at the flanged ends being larger than that of the other conicalshaped portion.

10. In a container for materials to be mixed together, a first dish-shaped element, a second dish-shaped element joined at the periphery to the first dish-shaped element, one of said dish-shaped elements having an inwardly extending central portion, the other of said dish-shaped elements having a conical extending portion made of thin flexible material, and a rupturable diaphragm separating the interior of the container into two compartments.

11. In a container for materials to be mixed together, a first dish-shaped element, a second dish-shaped element joined at the periphery to the first dish-shaped element, one of said dish-shaped elements having an inwardly extending central portion, the other of said dish-shaped elements having a conical extending portion made of thin flexible material, and a rupturable diaphragm separating the interior of the container into two compartments, the end of said conical extending portion being inverted to extend into the main body portion thereof.

12. In a container, a dish-shaped element having the central portion extending inwardly, a conical-shaped portion having a flexible wall joined to the dish-shaped portion at the periphery thereof, and a rupturable diation at the periphery thereof, and a rupturable diaphragm separating the dish-shaped portion from the conical portion adjacent said junction therebetween, the outer section of said conical portion being inverted to extend into the larger end portion thereof.

14. In a container in which two dissimilar materials are to be mixed while retained sealed from the air, a dish-shaped element having a central inwardly directed portion, a flexible conical portion joined to the periphery of said dish-shaped portion, and a compartment of rupturable material within said joined portions sealed to the wall thereof.

15. In a container in which two dissimilar materials are to be mixed while retained sealed from the air, a dish-shaped element having a central inwardly directed portion, a flexible conical portion joined to the periphery of said dish-shaped portion, and a compartment of ruptur-able material within said joined portions sealed to the wall thereof, the outer end of said conical portion being inverted into the larger portion thereof.

16. The method of mixing two or more materials together by a kneading action which includes the steps of forcing the end of a flexible wall portion against a rupturable partition which separates the materials, and relatively revolving the container and wall portion to knead the material under a rubbing action on the wall portion without rupturing the container to thoroughly mix the materials together.

g 17. The method of mixing two materials together Within a container in which the materials are separated by a rupturahle partition, and of advancing a rod into a flexible wall of one portion of the container to rupture the partition and bulge another portion of the container when the container and rod are relatively revolved to mix the material under pressure without rupturing the wall of the container.

18. The method of mixing two dissimilar materials in compartments of a container without rupturing the wall thereof which includes the steps of relatively moving the References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,764,983 Bare-sch et a1. Oct. 2, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 19 7,377 Germany Apr. 15, 1908 1,248,882 France Nov. 14, 1960 

1. A CONTAINER HAVING A PAIR OF COMPARTMENTS FOR CONTAINING DISSIMILAR MATERIALS SEPARATED BY A RUPTURABLE DIAPHRAGM, SAID MATERIAL REQUIRING A KNEADING ACTION WHEN MIXED TOGETHER, ONE OF SAID COMPARTMENTS HAVING A FLEXIBLE WALL TO PERMIT THE INSERTION OF A ROD FOR BREAKING THE DIAPHRAGM AND PERMITTING RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE ROD AND CONTAINER TO PRODUCE THE COMPLETE KNEADING AND MIXING OF THE MATERIALS WITH THE CONTAINER REMAINING SEALED. 